Written by Dr. Hankle
When you mention you work for Regent, you generally hear two responses. The first is, "Regent, I've heard good things about it, but isn't that a religious school?" The other is, "Isn't that Pat Robertson's school?" In some sense, both statements are true. However, both need clarification to really understand the Regent experience.
Regent is a religious school in that it is a university with a soul. From top administration to faculty and staff, the people at Regent see themselves as part of something bigger than their particular disciplines. Whether online or on campus the message is clear: true knowledge is to know God. Whatever your discipline, the very things we study are a reflection of the good and beautiful God we love. In my discipline we study human cognition and behavior. In a deeper sense, psychology studies the soul. From a Christian perspective it means true psychology must include a study of the biological, intellectual, and spiritual realms of being human. When schools remove the spiritual realm from psychology, they only study two-thirds of a human being. That seems limiting, and I am glad Regent has taken a different course in seeking to understand the human person.
In regard to this being Pat Robertson's school, I am sure Dr. Robertson would remind us that this is God's university. I'm proud of his leadership and the manner in which God has used him in the pursuit of truth. There are at least two qualities Dr. Robertson displays, if not more, worth imitation in our lives. First, he is continually open to the promptings of God when discerning what should be accomplished. If he were not, how could he dare establish a university that is truly interdenominational and intentionally Christian? Second, Dr Robertson has always been spirit-led and open to using his gift of leadership for God's kingdom.
Regent is indeed a unique experience. You can discuss it with others outside the university, but they cannot truly understand it unless they come here to work and study. The university has a soul again at Regent, and that makes all the difference in education. We are blessed to have that experience, and I am grateful God has placed me here to make a difference in the lives of future Christian leaders.
Dr. Hankle has served both as an online and on-campus adjunct faculty member since 1991. He also has 12 years experience as an outpatient therapist and Pastoral minister. Originially from Greensburg, PA, Dr. Hankle is married to Andrea and they have three children, Olivia, Hannah, and Domenic. He spends his free time with his family and he enjoys playing guitar, writing poetry, and reading history and spiritual classics. Dr. Hankle chose to teach at Regent because of the unique mission to help develop Christian Leaders, which he finds essential in creating a global community that recognizes the dignity of the human person, furthering the message of Jesus Christ.
